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…under the direction of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW; Armed Forces High Command); this body reported to Hitler separately from its rival, the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH; Army High Command), which ran the war on the Eastern Front. Under the OKW, the defense of western Europe against a possible Allied…

role of

…chief of operations of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW; Armed Forces High Command) on August 23, 1939, just before the invasion of Poland. With Wilhelm Keitel, OKW chief of staff, he became a key figure in Hitler’s central military command and was involved in implementing all of Germany’s campaigns except…

…advanced to head of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW; Armed Forces High Command), which Hitler had created as a central control agency for Germany’s military effort. He held that post until the end of World War II. Keitel participated in all major conferences, dictated the terms of the French surrender…